Brain Cancer

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

Brain cancer facts

Brain cancer can arise from many different types of brain cells (primary brain cancer) or occur when cancer cells from another part of the body spread (metastasize) to the brain. True brain cancers are those that arise in the brain itself.

Grades of brain cancers indicate how aggressive the cancer is.

Type of brain cancer indicates what kind of brain cells that gave rise to the tumor.

Staging of brain cancers indicates the extent of spread of the cancer.

Causes of brain cancer are difficult to prove; avoiding compounds linked to cancer production is advised.

Brain Cancer Symptoms

Dizziness

Dizziness is a feeling of being lightheaded or woozy. Disturbances of the brain, gastrointestinal system, vision, and the vestibular system of the inner ear are known causes of dizziness. People often refer to dizziness as vertigo, unsteadiness, or lightheadedness.